Time to start this I guess. We all know about the new coach and the schedule but let's get it in a thread. He'll start at the $$$$$$$AbuDhabi$$$$$$$ exhibition Jan 1-3 and then with all those guys to Doha the following week. Maybe he will cut down on the optionals throughout the year..... then again that'd be the smart thing to do, right?

__________________"What kind of shape am I in now? Well round is a shape." said Roddick with a laugh. "I had a very detailed retirement plan, and I feel like I've met every aspect of it: a lot of golf, a lot of carbs, a lot of fried food, and some booze, occasionally — I've been completely committed ... The results have shown."

Location: Melbourne, Australian Open, 2008. It was a beautiful morning in Melbourne and I was among a few hundred adoring female fans watching Andy Roddick practice on one of the outside courts. Until that day, I had no idea what a huge female following Andy has in Australia. I stood patiently by the gate hoping he would come my way so I could get an autograph. I knew my chances were slim as the Australian women were dressed to kill! And the most entertaining part was a bevy of four young girls, dressed up as brides and in full bridal make-up holding on to a banner, "Andy, will you marry one of us?" You have to be in Australia to actually believe how much they love Andy down there.

Needless to say, when Andy was done, he packed his stuff, joked with the four brides-to-be and left by the other gate. Not to be outdone, the few hundred women and I ran after him. He just continued walking. I yelled, "Andy, I am from N.J. and I am here to watch you win!" He stopped, gave me the biggest smile ever and, yes, he autographed my giant tennis ball!

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Andy to win AO 2009, do it for all your Aussie fans, Andy.

__________________"What kind of shape am I in now? Well round is a shape." said Roddick with a laugh. "I had a very detailed retirement plan, and I feel like I've met every aspect of it: a lot of golf, a lot of carbs, a lot of fried food, and some booze, occasionally — I've been completely committed ... The results have shown."

Exhibition Titanes Marcelo Rios will be the rival of Andy Roddick in duel of the 7 of April. Marcelo Rios is in favor of these days led subjects like the birth of its new son and the development of its companies. Of tennis, little and nothing, except for its practices in the club Providence. That lethargy, nevertheless, will not be eternal, because the 7 of April of 2009 will have to the front rival assets, top ten and with new determination for the season that comes. One is Andy Roddick, American number of the eight world and owner of the most powerful serve of history. Why " Chino" and nonFernando González? The producer of the duel, Piero Zoffoli, of One Fashion Manegement, responds: " To Marcelo they want all it to see and many tennis players, even, have said that they would pay to see it in action. A success against Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras was everything (it announced yesterday that seniors in Wimbledon will play the category) ". Not only that, since there are two facts that ruined the duel between González and Roddick: the first national racket will be to that date playing in the circuit and, in addition, the option was not seen with good eyes face the American, because it is new pupilo of now the ex- technician of the one of the Queen, Larry Stefanki, which could generate something of " morbo". The relations between both players, in any case, are very good. " A-Rod" it will have one loaded agenda the day of the confrontation, that will count on a clinic for minors, a press conference, reunón with auspiciadores and the visit to a foundation. And its passage by to Chile will fulfill it accompanied by the model Brooklyn Decker, with that will marry the week following to the duel. The place of the exhibition not yet is defined, although it went ahead that it will gamble in field of cement and before 12 thousand people. Probable scene? The Movistar Sand, in the OHiggins Park. " Chino" it does not have a very good memory of the best North American player of last the six years. Twice faced that it (the both in 2001) lost: in the round of 64 in the Masters Series of Miami and the quarters of end in Washington. The serve of Roddick, by the others, generates great attention, considering that is the owner of the first more powerful service of history, with 249 kilometers per hour, the one that obtained in the middle of 2004.

I don't even know where to start, so I won't even bother. But glad to know that he's shaping his whole schedule around these cash cow exhibitions in the nether regions of the world. He never ever EVER has a right to complain about the schedule again, if he really goes to Chile in April, if it's really a week before his wedding (which would make his wedding during Monte Carlo ), ever ever ever again.

The schedule for the inaugural Capitala World Tennis Championship has been announced and has thrown up some tantalising clashes.

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and James Blake make up the line-up for tournament which runs from Jan 1-3 at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City.

The action on New Year’s Day will see former US Open champion Andy Roddick take on the world No 5 Nikolay Davydenko in the opening match, which will start at 3pm.

That will be followed straight afterwards by Britain’s Andy Murray, who will be looking to build on a strong 2008 that saw him reach the US Open final and also triumph in three Masters events, as he takes on the American player James Blake.

The Jan 2 itinerary will comprise the semi-finals. The world No 2 and winner of 13 grand slams Roger Federer will compete against the victor of the Murray and Blake meeting in a clash that will begin at 3pm.

In the second semi-final, the world No 1 Rafael Nadal, who won the French Open and Wimbledon this year, will make his debut as he faces the winner of the clash between Roddick and Davydenko.

The winning semi-finalists will then compete on Jan 3 in the final, with the start time for that game being 5pm.

Tickets for all three days of the event are on sale at www.boxofficeme.com and are proving popular, much to the delight of tournament organisers.

“We are expecting a series of exhilarating matches,” said Peter Wilding, deputy chief executive of Capitala.

“Every seat at the ATP standard Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex offers fantastic views so it’s not surprising that tickets are selling fast.

“This event is a unique opportunity to watch some of the world’s best tennis players compete in every match which is guaranteed to keep everyone enthralled from start to finish.”